RLC News Articles

Tuition rates set for FY 2013: no increaseThe board established the in-district tuition rate of $93 per credit hour for Summer and Fall 2012 and Spring 2013, which is no increase from the current rate. At this time, the administration believes the college will be able to maintain a strong financial position and meet the forecasted budgetary needs of the college without increasing tuition. Maintaining the current rate will allow RLC to remain competitive with its peer group schools and to maintain its stature as one of the most affordable community colleges in the state.

Board Chair Bryan Drew praised the administration, faculty and staff for their efforts in keeping tuition level. "We've been through some tough financial times. Everybody pitched in. It was a good job all over campus," Drew said.

In the same action, the out-of-state and out-of-country tuition rates were set at $150 per credit hour. Out-of-district tuition will be set at a later date.

IGEN agreement approved, Jackson joins facultyApproved an intergovernmental agreement establishing the Illinois Green Economy Network, a result of the IGEN Trade Adjustment Act grant awarded to Rend Lake College last year. RLC will use the money to build two new online programs – sustainable design and facilities management.

In a related action, the board hired Matthew Jackson as IGEN Curriculum Coordinator effective Feb. 17. He holds a Master's Degree in Architecture with a specialization in Sustainability and a Bachelor's Degree in Architecture, both from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, an an Associate in Applied Science Degree from RLC. He has served as an adjunct architecture instructor at RLC since 2001.

White & Borgognoni chosen as Art addition architectsApproved White & Bogognoni Architects, P.C. of Carbondale as the architectural firm for the art program addition. The college learned late last year that $450,000 in funding had been released under Governor Pat Quinn’s Illinois Jobs Now! capital funding program to expand the college’s art program. The project will create construction jobs for the area and add 2,200 square feet of much-needed space for art students at the college. Identified as a need at RLC in the early 1980s, the addition will expand integral areas of the art program such as ceramics, sculpture, and print making. It also will provide for more storage space and a dark room.

• Nathan Brouwer, History Instructor. Brouwer has repeatedly proven his dedication to his students and to RLC. He has served on several committees and is supportive of the college and its mission, and has developed an online course in Latin American History in support of the college's online degree efforts. According to his supervisor, Liberal Arts Division Chair Henry "Buster" Leeck, Brouwer's "positive attitude is contagious to those around him."

• Kathy Craig, Agriculture Instructor. Craig has demonstrated a strong work ethic and dedication to the college and its agriculture program. She made many contributions to the recent Career Technical Education Assessment focus report for the Higher Learning Commission and constantly evaluates her courses and the curriculum to ensure quality.

• Amber Fann, Practical Nursing Instructor. Fann is a knowledgeable nursing instructor who continues to keep herself up to date with changes in the healthcare field, maintains her certifications in basic and advanced life support and continues training as a Certified Legal Nurse Consultant.

• Aurelia Hudgens, Certified Nurse Assistant Instructor. Hudgens has been instrumental in the continued growth of the CNA program, and has ensured the quality of education provided in the program is duplicated on and off campus as well as in the high school dual-credit offerings. She has demonstrated her commitment to the program by her active involvement in the assessment process and her close association with area health institutions and state organizations.

• Abel Kinser, Biology Instructor. Kinser is an effective instructor who actively contributes to the improvement of the biology curriculum and the college as a whole, as evidenced by his involvement with assessment, faculty committees and student organizations. He is a leader in the implementation of technology in his classroom and has proven himself a solid, well-rounded instructor.

• Kim Robert, Radiologic Technology Instructor and Allied Health Division Chair. Robert has been instrumental in the development and expansion of the Radiologic Technology program. In the past year, she assumed the duties of division chair while continuing to teach. Her leadership skills were described by administrators as exemplary, both as an administrator and as a faculty member. She was key in preparing and submitting the documentation for the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology, which gave the Radiologic Technology program the maximum accreditation. Robert also was instrumental in developing the evening radiology program and adding the Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging occupational certificates.

• Dave Smith, Welding Professor Emeritus. Smith retired from RLC and returned to the Welding program as professor emeritus in 2009. His many years of experience have helped RLC increase enrollment in the program while strengthening ties with business, industry and trade organizations. Smith has provided mentoring to new faculty in his efforts to ensure the quality of instruction and assessment of courses and the program continue.

Humm joins STARS teamAppointed Mollie Humm as Student Transfer and Retention Support Advisor effective March 5. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from the University of Illinois and an Associate of Arts Degree from RLC. She most recently served as a college liaison / career specialist for Man-Tra-Con Corp.

Veteran Student Services employee Oliver retiringAccepted with regret the retirement resignation of Gloria Oliver, Career Resource and Assessment Specialist, effective June 30, 2012. Oliver said the decision to retire was a difficult one. "I became part of the RLC family in October 1986," she wrote in her retirement letter. "At that time, I started meeting and working with some of the most wonderful people anyone could ever hope to encounter. I will always treasure the student contact, faculty and staff relationships developed during my time here."

On behalf of the board, Drew thanked Oliver for her 26 years of service. "We appreciate all of her work and we hate to see her go," he said.

New courses approved, other curriculum changes madeApproved three new courses – MicroComp Hardware / Operating Systems, Introduction to Communications, and Network Security – as part of the IT Systems Specialist curriculum and authorized their submission to the Illinois Community College Board for action. A change in the total credit hours for the IT Systems Specialist curriculum also was approved.

In addition, the Electronics Technology and Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration curricula (formerly offered at correctional centers) were withdrawn, as were the Illinois Law Enforcement Academy and Webmaster curricula. The Illinois Law Enforcement Academy curricula is not the same as the college's existing Criminal Justice curriculum, which continues to be offered.

• Approved the statements of final construction compliance for the RLC Murphy-Wall Pinckneyville Campus Science and Computer Center addition, the roof replacement at the Science Building and the campus facilities upgrades.

• Approved the notice of election for the student member of the Board of Trustees.